The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

On the continent of Asia, in its south-eastern corner, a mass of land stretches with a country of China. The country is marked by beautiful mountains, its Great Wall, rich history and traditions. One of the traditions, which greatly differs from the Western world, is the Chinese calendar. In the Chinese calendar, each of the twelve animals has a different character represented by the year you were born in. It is said that “This is the animal that hides in your heart.”

A long time ago, when the Jade Emperor ruled China there was no calendar. Therefore, there was no way to measure time and no way to celebrate birthdays.

One day, the King of Heaven, namely the Jade Emperor announced, “Something must be done.” The Emperor loved animals, thus an idea sprang into his mind, “I could use an animal for each month….hmm…but which animals should I pick and for which month?”

The Emperor known for its great mind, decided to sleep on it, “I know it will come to me sooner than expected.” And true enough, the following morning the Emperor announced a race, “A swimming race across a wide river. The first twelve animals will represent the twelve months of our calendar.”

Every creature in the kingdom was invited to compete.

Rat and Cat, the best friends, trotted to the river together. “Look at those big strong animals,” whimpered Rat.” A Dragon spitted a fire, a Tiger groaned, a Snake waved his body around a tree, blocking a Monkey jumping from one tree to another.

“Don’t worry,” encouraged Cat. “Look at the Pig. It’s wallowing in a pool of mud. I’m pretty sure you can outrun a pig.”

The Rat was still not quite convinced, “Look at the strong current of the river. How are we going to do it?”

The Cat paused for a moment, when spotting an Ox, he said, “Come on. Let me talk to the Ox.”

Upon approaching the Ox, the Cat smoothed his whiskers and stated, “Ox you are such a strong animal with a broad back. Do you think you could carry two small animals on your back across the strong currents of the river?”

“It will be my pleasure,” responded the Ox laying down his body on the green lush grass. “Why don’t you hop on.”

At the same time, the Jade Emperor shouted, “Ready, steady, go!”

All the animals plunged into the water, squawking, bleating and snorting. The ride on the back of the Ox was smooth. He was leading the pack, however the rest of the animals were not far behind. A Rooster with a Monkey and Sheep were approaching them on a raft. “You’re doing great,” the Cat encouraged the Ox.

Now the Rat spotted a Hare jumping from one stone to another across the river and a Tiger pushing with all his strength against the currents. They both were getting closer and closer to the Ox. “Keep going,” shouted the Rat. “We’re almost there.”

They were approaching the Jade Emperor standing at the bank of the river and waving his hands, invigorating the competitors.

The Rat saw a chance at winning. He sneaked by the Cat and moved to the Ox’s head between its two horns. As soon as the Ox approached the bank and was about to step onto dry land, down leapt Rat and darted into first place.

“The first winner,” announced the Jade Emperor. Further declaring next winners, “Ox in second place; Tiger in third; Hare in fourth; Dragon in fifth; Snake in sixth, Horse in seventh, Sheep in eighth, Monkey in ninth, Rooster in tenth; Dog in eleventh and final animal Pig in twelfth place.” The proud Jade Emperor applauded all animals, “Well done. From now on, every child born in your year will share your talents.”

But what had happened to the Cat? He was nowhere to be seen. From then on the Rat and Cat are still the worst of enemies.

The event was followed with a party full of dancing, feasting, and laughter. All animals rejoiced and wished each other health, happiness and wealth. And this had become a tradition known as Chinese New Year and remains to be the most important festival for Chinese people.

 

Source: The Great Race. The Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Dawn Casey

Anansi Does the Impossible - An Ashanti Tale

The continent of Africa is in a shape of a parrot and at its throat height lies a country of Nigeria. The country’s coast borders with the Gulf of Guinea. And this is where two major rivers of Nigeria come together and empty into the Niger Delta. It is one of the largest river deltas in the world. In this area of the Gulf of Guinea indigenous people called Ashantiland tell many tales about a cunning spider, who is their hero. And here is one of those stories.

A long time ago, all folktales where owned by the Sky God.

One day, Anansi the Spider announced to his wife Aso that he would win all those folktales and gift them to the earth people.

The next day, Anansi set to meet with the Sky God. As he reached the highest peak, he raised his head toward the sky and spoke loudly, “The highest deity in the bluest sky, how can I win all your folktales for our earth people?”

“What makes you think you can win it,” bellowed the voice from high above. Not waiting for an answer he continued, “I’ll give you three most impossible tasks if you think you’re so smart. Bring me a live python, a real fairy, and thirty-seven stinging hornets.”

“I can manage that,” answered Anansi confidently, then hurried home.

As soon as he arrived home, all his confidence was gone, “Oh dear wife, how am I supposed to achieve all those impossible tasks?”

“Hmm, let me think. Remember one task at time…one task at a time,” she kept repeating as she was hatching a plan in her head. “I know how to catch a python,” and she whispered into his ear.

They ran into a nearby river and sat on a log. Soon after a python slithered its way to the water’s edge. As he sipped water, he overhead the couple arguing, “What is the problem?”

“There is no problem,” retorted Anansi. “Only my wife says that you’re not as long as this log and I begged to differ.”

The snake hissed, “I know I am longer than this log.” Without any further convincing, he stretched his long body along the log.

“Your tail is a bit too short, let me stretch it,” proclaimed Aso tying the snake to the log at one end.

At the other end, Anansi declared, “You need to stretch your nose a bit towards me. Let me help you.” He quickly tied the snake to the log on his end. “Keep stretching,” encouraged Anansi while winding the rope and moving toward the middle where he met his wife.

“Done,” they whispered and smiled. And off Anansi was with a life python trotting his way to the Sky God.

The Sky God darkened the sky into a navy blue color and sent a bright lightning as he couldn’t believe that Anansi had achieved his first task. “Well, you have two more impossible tasks to perform.”

Upon his return home, Anansi asked his wife, “But how are we going to catch a fairy?”

“Hmm let me think…let me think,” after taking a few deep breaths and scratching her head, she announced, “I have an idea.” And she whispered it to Anansi’s ear.

Anansi not wasting any time, followed his wife’s directions and carved a wooden fairy and covered it with sticky gum from a mimosa tree. Aso placed a tiny dish of banana between two wooden hands of the fairy.  And when the sky was dark and the moon was bright, Anansi placed the wooden-fairy on the odum tree and hid behind bushes.

Shortly after some fairies came and surrounded the wooden-fairy. “She is pretty quiet and she doesn’t flap her wings,” said one.

“No, she doesn’t,” nodded another, “But she has something sweet in her basket. Shall we try it?” No waiting for an answer, she reached for the sweet, “Oh, no my hands are stuck to the sweet. I can’t pull them.”

“Oh, no,” lamented the fairies.

Meanwhile, Anansi pulled the strings and the real fairy attached to the wooden one flew straight into his hands. He then rushed to the Sky God.

The Sky God roared, “I really don’t know how you perform those impossible tasks, but you still have one more left.”

Anansi went back home and said to his wife, “I have no idea how we are going to catch forty-seven hornets.”

Aso thought and thought and finally whispered the plan into Anansi’s ear.

As suggested Anansi picked a bottle guard in a shape of long melon with a wooden cork and walked to the cold stream to fill it with water. Then he climbed high up a nearby tree and tipped the bottle letting the water gurgle down upon the hornets. The hornets immediately flew in all directions. “My dear hornets here is a bottle guard where you can find a safe and dry shelter here,” encouraged Anansi.

The hornets buzzed around. As one entered the bottle, another followed and then some more. Anansi kept a count of each hornet entering the bottle. As soon as he counted forty-seven of them, he popped the stopper in and off he was to the Sky God.

Upon seeing Anansi, the furious Sky God flashed his lightning and beat his thunder.

Anansi tasting his victory, kept calm and with extreme politeness announced, “The dearest Sky God, here are the forty-seven stinging hornets. Would you like to count them?”

“No!” thundered the Sky God. “You have won the stories. Now take your leave,” boomed the Sky God.

Anansi thanked the Sky God and took his leave.

That night, the people of the village gathered in a circle around a bonfire and listened to the stories told by Anansi.

People upon hearing how Anansi won the stories for them rejoiced, singing, “Honor to Anansi! Honor to Anansi and Aso!”

And from that day on, the folktales of West Africa have been called Anansi Tales.

Source: Anansi does the Impossible by Verna Aardema